Aeroplane amusement apparatus.



E. s. SMITH AEROPLANE AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1911.

:lmmm

mm A,

EDGAR S. SMITH, OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA.

AEROPLANE AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Application filed August 21, 1911. Seria1 No. 645,074.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGARS. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glendale, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Aeroplane Amusement Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aeroplane amusement apparatus, the operation of which may be caused to simulate that of aeroplane apparatus freely flown and entirely voluntarily controlled, and wherein or whereupon one or more passengers may be carried in transit within a predetermined or circumscrlbed course, safely and with a degree of amusement and instruction, one or both.

The invention has for its object the provision of mechanism or apparatus of thecharacter above stated which will be relatively simple andlnexpensive 1n constructlonand operation, positive and unfailing 1n oper I ation,and convenient and'sure in control,

and which will be generally superior in efliciency and serviceability. v p Y With the above and other objects'in view the invention consists in the novel and pe euliar provision, formation, construction,

relative arrangement and combination of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown 'in the drawing and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a top-plan view of, aeroplane amusement apparatus constructed and or nized in accordance withthe invention; ig. 2 is .a side elevation of the same, partly in section; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a feature of the assemblage shown in the other figures; Fig. 4 is a detail vertical transverse sectional view, taken upon the 'line 4-4, I, and looking in t-lie-direction of the accompanying arrows. and larged scale; and, Fig. .5 is. an enlarged fragmentary view of other features of the assemblage shown inthe other figures.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring withparticularity to the drawing, the aeroplane amusement apparatus therein shown as exemplifying or embodying the invention, in one form of assemblage, comprises an aeroplane A, means B confining the aeroplane to a predetermined o cirupon an encumsc-ribed course of travel, means C acting to impart an irregular movement to the aeroplane in its travel, and motive means D for actuating the aeroplane and causing it to move within its circumscribed course of traveL- The aeroplane or is shown as of the biplane type, having propellers d which, within the spirit of the invention, may be actuated to cause the motion of the aeroplane, in substitution for the motive means *D. It is to be understood that the aeroplane is provided with the usual steering, guiding and stabilizing means whereby 1t may be kept or returned to a normal balance condition and presentation of its surfaces to the relatively moving atmosphere. These various means and devices are not illustrated, as they may be of standardwell-known construction and function. and are not directly concerned in the invention. 4

The aeroplane is adjustably mounted upon an arm 6,byconnection means I) which permit the aeroplane to assume different positions, with respect to fore and aft and lateral stability, and presentation of surfaces to the relatively moving atmosphere. The arm 6 is included within the means B confining the aeroplane to a predetermined course of travel. The arm 6 is pivotally and rotatively supported at its inner end portion, opposite to the end at which the aeroplane is connected with said arm. by two bearing members, a and c, which respectively permit rotation of the arm p in a substantially horizontal plane, and oscillation of the same in a vertical plane.

E designates a counterpoise mounted upon the arm 6 with the bearing between the same and the aeroplane; said counterpoise being movably mounted upon thearm and urged toward the bearing members by spring or equivalent tension means f.

F designates variable stop means whereby I the aeroplane may be temporarily held in varying positions'with respect to lateral stability or equilibrium. and which limit lateral instability of the aeroplane.

The connection means 6 comprise a ball and socket or universal joint. the ball member 7 being mounted upon the arm 6, and the socket member. 8 being secured beneath the frame of the aeroplane by screws-or the like 9, a-threaded pin 10 being provided for I a maximum of lateral stability. The dog 12 ment to the aeroplane; ing member 0 is hold t e aeroplane in predetermined pos1-. I tion upon the arm 6.

The yariable stopmeans F are arranged atone end of the aeroplane, and comprise a rack 11- mounted upon the arm 6, a spring actuated dog 12 mounted upon the aeroplane, and a cord or the like 13 leadingfromthe dog to thepassenger or pilot upon the aeroplane. The top of the rack has a finger 14 directed over the aeroplane, and serving as means limiting the aeroplane to co-acts with the teeth of the rack to hold the aeroplane in various positions of lateral instability. I

The bearing me her 0 is vertical and rotatable in a sleeve or bushing-15 sunk in a base 16 located in the central portion of the means 0 for imparting variable move- Keyed to the bearabevel gear. 17 meshes a pinion 18 of the shaft of an electric motor 19 illustrated as'constituting the motive means D. The upper .end' of the member 0 is bifurcated to form a vertical oke 20 within the arms of which is mounted the bearing member 6 which is horizon tally disposed, and upon which, at either projecting end, outside of the yoke 20, are collars 21, upon the bearing member 6; and outside of the same are sleeves 22 constituting the inner ends of brace arnis 22 converging into connection with the arm 6 ad jacent to the aeroplane A. Other short braces 23 rise from the arm 6'to the capped ends of the sleeves 21, the arm 6 being there- 'by suspended at its inner end beneath the bearing member '6, through the yoke 20.

The means C for imparting irregular movement to the aeroplane comprise a pluralityof tracks or ways, 24 and 25, circular in form and concentric with the bearing member candthegear 17 thereupon. Said tracks or ways are connected at opposed points by switches or cross-overs 26 and 27 whereby a wheel 28 upon the arm 6 may be-directed-to the track 25 from the track 24 by the switch 27, and to the track 24 'from thetrack 25 by the switch 26. The tracks constitute vertical walls with irregular upper'surfaces or edges, formed into alternating and merging elevations and depressions or hills and valleys, with a general curvature in each instance. Preferably the hills of one track or way arearrang'ed.

in opposition to the valleys of the other track or way. The said tracks or ways are mounted upon a base 29 central the base 16 of the bearing member a. The wheel 28 is mounted slidably upon a hori zontal shaft 29 suspended by a bracket 30 beneath the arm 6 over the tracks or ways 24 and 25, tension means consisting of an exwith which to that end extending of which isupon the shaft 29 so as to urge the wheel 28 outwardly or toward the outer end of the arm 6 e The ope ation, method of use and advanamusement apparatus constituting the mvention, willbe readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the following statement. As the motive means to rotate upon its bearingi member 0, direction denoted by the-arrow in. the wheel 28 riding over the track or way 24 or 25 of the means C causes the arm 6 of the means B to alternately rise and-fall, imparting an irregular movement to the aeroplane at the outer end of the arm 6, simulating the rise and dip of an aeroplane in free flight: It is to be understood that the tracks or ways may be of different conformation to" produce different effects in varying the movementof the aeroplane, and the wheel 28 may traverse first one track and then be switched over to the other track by the switch 26 or 27. If the wheel leaves either track or;way, by elevation of the arm 6 upon the horizontal bearing member e, due to the lifting force of the re-actions of the relatively moving atmosphere and surfaces of the aeroplane, the spring 31 will, cause the wheel to move into position to descend upon the track 25. when the arm6 descends upon the bearing member 6.. It will be un- D causes the arm 6 in a circular course, being confined to such course by the arm 6, and hasits wheel 28 upon one track or way. However, the irtate ing member 0, which is also utilized in case the arm. rises to draw the wheel 28 from either track or way, permitting the aeroplane to fly freely with the exceptionfof limitation to The variable stop means F enable the operator or passenger of the aeroplane to lock the aeroplane in any desired position of disturbed lateral stability, "and limit such condition to a maximum tilt or tip laterally. The connection means 6 permit the aeroplane to tilt laterally; and longitudinally, unless the same are locked to revent such movement by the threaded pin 10. The counterpoise E acts automatically to lessen the pressure of the arm 6 and aeroplaneA upon the means C as the speed ofrotation "increases; thus, at a given s ed, causing the arm and the aeroplane to use free of the means 0, more closely simulating flight.

- It is to be understood that a plurality of the arms 6, each with an aeroplane and other attendant features andparts may be substituted in installation for the single aeroplane pansive spring or the like 31 being mounted.

tages of the improvements in aeroplane,

a circular course by the arm 6.

in the Fig. 1,

derstood that normally the aeroplane moves regularlties of such tracks or ways necessl- I the provision of the horizontal bear and attendant features shown in the drawing and above described. Thepropellers (Z may, as above stated, be positively driven, though not so shown in the drawing, or-may be permitted to move in response to the reactions of the air impinging upon them. In

dotted lines in Fig. 2 is shown the position of the aeroplane when it rises due to .reactions upon its surfaces as above set forth.

I do'not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specific provision, formation, construction, combination and relative arrangement of parts, members and features shown and described; but reserve the right to vary the same, in adapting the improvements to varying conditions of use, without departing from the spirit of the invention and the terms of the following claims:

Having thus described my invention I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent: 1.. Apparatus of the character described, comprising an arm rotatively mount-ed adjacentto one end, an aeroplane mounted upon the other end of the arm, means for rotating the arm, and means for producing oscillations of the arm during the rotation thereof; there being connection means. be tween the aeroplane and the arm permitting free oscillation of the aeroplane relative to a horizontal plane. M 2. Apparatus of the character described, comprising an arm rotatively mount-ed adjacent to one end, an aeroplane mounted upon the other end of the arm, means for rotating the arm, and means for producing oscillations of the arm during the rotation thereof; there being connection means between the aeroplane and the arm permitting free oscillation of the aeroplane relative to the arm; and stop means limiting such latter oscillation.

Apparatus of the character described, comprising 'an arm rotatively mount-ed ad- .jacentto one end, an aeroplane mounted upon the other end of the arm, means for 4. Apparatus of the character described,

comprlsing an arm mounted for movement in a circular path and for oscillation, an aeroplane mounted upon the arm,.mot1ve means for the arm, and means co-acting with the arm to cause such oscillation; said last named means comprising a plurality of curved irregular surfaced concentric structures beneath the arm, and an adjustable wheel upon the arm for co-action with said concentric structures. a

5. Apparatus of the character described, comprising .an arm mounted for movement in a predetermined path, motive means for the arm. an aeroplane mounted upon the arm, means for causing oscillation of the arm during its normal movement, and an adjustable automatically operating counter poise for thearm.

6.. Apparatus of the characterdescribed, comprising an arm mounted for movement in a circular path, an aeroplane mounted upon the arm, motive means for the arm, and means co-acting with the arm to cause oscillation of the same; said last named comprising a plurality of curved irregularmeans comprising a plurality of curved ir-' regular surfaced concentric tracks beneath and reacting with the arm and connected by a switch.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

- EDGAR s. SMITH. 

